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PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — An anonymous millionaire who has been hiding cash and giving hints on where to find it on Twitter left stashes of money in Pasadena and Echo Park Friday.

The mystery man and real estate developer tweeted hints (from @HiddenCash) leading the first lucky finder to locate an envelope at the Old Firehouse Recording Studio, 35 W Dayton Street.

“I have an alert on my phone since I knew they were coming to LA and it said ‘little old lady,’ oh, that’s my town,” said Casandra Mercury, who found $145.

The next two money drops, totaling $331, were made at the Huntington Botanical Gardens and found before 11:15 a.m.

After repeatedly saying on Twitter that he’d make more drops Friday he allegedly made good on his promise and left cash around 7 p.m. at several spots in the Echo Park Lake area.

Apparently, this guy’s on a roll!

CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Juan Fernandez was there when two lucky people stumbled upon the cash.

The generous man, who has been giving clues to locations of envelopes filled with $20 and $100 bills, started the scavenger hunt in San Francisco and continued in Southern California on Wednesday.

Shortly after midnight Friday, he shared a statement explaining where the idea originated from and what he wants moving forward.

“What was originally meant to be a pay-it-forward scavenger hunt for San Francisco, has become much bigger than San Francisco and more than a scavenger hunt. The worldwide interest that has been spawned is tremendous, and though personally surprising, in some ways it is understandable,” he wrote. “We would like to keep this movement going, and we thank you for your support keeping it safe and positive.”

He also mentioned he has a big announcement coming soon.

“There really is no agenda here — not political, not business, not religious — other than bringing people together in a positive way and bringing a smile to people’s faces.”

Police say they’re wary of potential public safety hazards caused by cash-crazed crowds. This said after hundreds, possibly thousands of people converged on the Empire Center in Burbank Thursday night after @HiddenCash left hints directing people there.

Burbank police lamented that they had no chance to prepare for the influx of people.

LAPD Officer Drake Madison said the man behind it all wasn’t doing anything illegal. He knows it’s all be done in good fun, but says that could change in an instant. He asked people to “take a little bit of a common-sense approach” and not get carried away when searching for the cash drops.

“Safety should not be compromised (for the sake of) a few hundred bucks,” Madison said. “We’re trying to get them to understand that common
sense part of it.”

Drivers and pedestrians should obey all traffic laws when on a treasure hunt, he said.

Madison also warned people to avoid potential arguments over found cash, expressing the hope that people don’t begin fighting over money.

So far, they haven’t.

“Keep everything in perspective and (don’t) put yourself or other people in jeopardy,” Madison advised.